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Pitcher plants are carnivorous plants able to use their tube-shaped leaves to trap and digest insects.[1] The insects are drawn in by a sweet nectar and visual lures. The inside of the tube is often too slippery for the insect to climb out. When the insects fall into the pool of water on the inside, the insects are digested by enzymes or bacteria. The reason these plants formed this method of seeking nutrition is because their native soils lack minerals or are very acidic, and this method enables the plants to compensate by getting nutrients from insects. It's possible to grow these fascinating plants at home, just follow the steps.

Steps

1

Research the requirements of each species. Carnivorous pitcher plants can be found all over the world, so the requirements to grow them vary according to the region from which they are sourced. Read a few quality books on the subject to give you a solid understanding of the plants and their needs. A brief overview of the different types of pitcher plants follows:

Nepenthes, tropical pitcher plants, monkey cups - There are about 120 species in the Nepenthes genus and they grow in the Old World tropics (mostly in the Malay archipelago). Most of these species will require high humidity, lots of water, and moderate to high light levels (similar to orchids).[2] These are not ideal "beginner" plants.[3]

Sarraceniaceae - This family of pitcher plants grow in the New World and can be broken down into three genera (groups of species):

Sarracenia - All of these species grow in North America. They require require a distinct summer and winter, strong, direct sunlight, and lots of water.

Darlingtonia - These species are limited to Oregon and northern California and are difficult to grow. The roots need to be kept cooler than the rest of the plant because they grow in environments with cold running water.

Heliamphora - All of these species are native to South America. They are also difficult to cultivate.

Cephalotus - There's only one species in this genus (Cephalotus follicularis) and it can be grown like any subtropical plant.

Bromeliaceae - This is the same family that contains pineapples. One or two species in this family are believed to be carnivorous. They don't form the characteristic pitcher shape.

2

Obtain the plants. Once you've decided which species you're best prepared to grow, start looking for a source. Your best bet is to find a reputable greenhouse and purchase a healthy pitcher plant from there. Ask the assistants for additional tips on growing that particular species.

Although it's possible to grow pitcher plants from seeds or cuttings, this is not advised for beginners.

3

Place the plant in a sunny location receiving at least six hours of direct sunlight. Ideal temperatures range between 60ºF to 85ºF (15.5ºC to 29.6ºC). The beautiful coloring of the pitcher plant will be much more intense if the plant receives at least a couple hours of bright, full sunlight each day, but will also grow reasonably well in partial shade. Most people grow pitcher plants in a greenhouse environment or in a terrarium.[4] You can make an inexpensive version using a saucer and a soda bottle; cut off the top of the bottle and place upside down over the plant on a saucer.[5] The garden will only be suitable where it replicates the exact environment where pitcher plants grow naturally.

Inadequate lighting is a common cause of killing pitcher plants in the homegrown environment. If you don't have a greenhouse or humid, sunny space for the plants, consider using artificial lighting. Illuminating with several cool or warm white fluorescent bulbs placed 12" (30 cm) from the plant will assist.[6]

Only place hardier pitcher plants in a windowsill, and even then, only if you have adequate sunshine and humidity. While bathrooms are wonderfully humid, their windows are usually too dark to provide the amount of light required by the pitcher plant.[7] Hardier pitcher plants include sundews, bladderworts, and butterworts. A Venus flytrap probably won't like being situated on a windowsill.[8]

Air-conditioning makes the room too dry for pitcher plants.

4

Situate the plant appropriately. Fill the cups about 1/2- 3/4 inch (1.2 cm to 1.9 cm) full of water to keep the inside moist. During travel, the fluid already present in the cups sometimes falls out, and if the cups dry out, the plant could die.

5

Provide good drainage soil. A good soil is one composed of a one to one mixture of peat moss and perlite or combine Sphagnum moss, charcoal and orchid bark. The type of soil and the ratios, however, should be researched very carefully for the type of pitcher plant you have. If your pitcher plant doesn't like the soil, it won't thrive and will die. Don't use potting mix or fertilizers – pitcher plants are primed for poor soil and rich soil will be an overload.

6

Keep the soil very wet during the growing season, from May through October. A drained pot should sit in 1 inch (2.5 cm) of standing water. Don't let the plants dry out completely. Make sure the water you use is either rainwater or distilled, with low levels of salts. Aerating the water before watering the plant can help the plant grow. To aerate the water, fill a container half full with water, seal it, and shake it vigorously.

7

Keep the habitat humid. Pitcher plants can tolerate low humidity, but they usually stop making pitchers if the humidity is inadequate. About 35 percent humidity is fine for the plants. Greenhouses and terrariums can provide the needed humidity, but be sure to provide the proper ventilation so the air does not overheat or become stagnant.

8

Feed the plant. If the pitcher plants are growing somewhere without access to insects for an extended period of time, you can add a few small insects, such as a fly, or a cockroach, to a mature plant. However, this is usually not needed. Many types benefit from adding a small amount of a balanced soluble fertilizer to the pitcher (e.g. Miracid mixed 1/8 teaspoon per quart of water). Add this solution only to the pitchers until they are 3/4 filled.[9]

9

Maintain the pitcher plant's well-being. Besides watering, humidity, and feeding, keeping the pitcher plant in good shape requires that you ensure it has room to grow and is protected:

Clip off all the dead leaves with scissors when the winter dormant period begins. Their dormant period varies by species, but is normally about 3-5 months during the winter. During this time, they should be kept cool and drier than normal.

Protect outdoor pitcher plants. Leave any developing pitchers in the pot or provide thick mulch of leaves and cover with plastic or a container in hardiness zones six to eight during the winter months when left outside.

Divide and re-pot the plant when the pitcher comes out of dormancy before rapid growth for new plants and begin the cycle over again. Pitcher plants can live for several years if cared for properly.

Community Q&A

Do new pitcher bulbs generate their own enzymes, or do I need to add water to new bulbs?

wikiHow Contributor

Community Answer

Generally most Pitcher bulbs generate and secrete their own enzymes depending on the available moisture in the air and water drawn from the soil. A good habit and helpful way to keep moisture in your pitcher bulbs is to use a spray bottle containing only rainwater or Reverse osmosis filtered water to spray the whole plant foliage lightly, Just enough to moisten the plant. You don't have to inject or pour any water deliberately.

Our pitcher plant is hanging outside in a greenbelt area. It has gotten very leafy and all the pitchers have turned brown. It is getting daily sun yet temperatures are anticipated to drop into the 40's. What is needed to save the plant through the winter?

wikiHow Contributor

Community Answer

Your pitcher plant seems to like the spot you picked for it. The pitchers turning brown is a sign of dormancy and should be just fine if the temperatures don't reach freezing levels. You can provide extra protection to your plant by inserting the pot inside a bigger pot to insulate and prevent drastic temperature change that can damage the roots. Also, adding some mulch or dead leaves around the plant and covering with a clear plastic over the plant can help it through winter. Once growing season starts you can divide new growths into separate pots and trim some of the long leggy leaves to promote rapid new growth.

If you use a terrarium, it should be vented to provide fresh air and to allow the occasional insect to get in at all times. Keeping an airtight terrarium is not advised for pitcher-plants because it would trap excessive heat in and allow mold and fungus to grow. The plant would also deplete the CO2 it needs to effectively grow.

Why are the cups turning brown? Also should I do anything with the long vines?

wikiHow Contributor

Community Answer

The pitchers turning brown could be a sign of the plant going dormant. If your plant is kept outdoors during the dormant/winter season, leave the long vines until growing season to protect the tender growing leaves during cold periods.

Can pitcher plants be planted directly in the soil outside or must they be left in a pot?

wikiHow Contributor

Community Answer

Open expanses are best for any carnivorous plant if the growing conditions mimic those in its natural habitat, but growing them in pots provides the advantage of taking them inside if the temperatures reach 40 degrees or below.

A friend gave me a cutting from her pitcher plant. Do I need to put it in a jar with water until it grows roots, or do i just plant it in dirt?

wikiHow Contributor

Community Answer

Rooting Pitcher plants from cuttings is difficult but not impossible. You can try putting it in a jar with reverse osmosis filtered water and provide extra oxygen on the water with an aquarium air pump.
You can also use sand, Rock-wool, or Peat-moss. Just make sure the medium is always moist, not drenched, and that the water you use is chlorine free. It is important also that you Check the water PH & temperature levels. For a Pitcher plant the Ideal water is PH: 5.5 - 5.8 and temperature 66 - 72 deg Fahrenheit.

Video.

By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube.

Although the first minute talks about a dying pitcher plant (a common occurrence for home growing), this video goes on to tell you what you should do to raise pitcher plants and how you should handle them.

Do not touch them because the oil on our hands will be a slow death to the plants.

Tips

When growing inside place the plant in a southern exposure window or provide 12 to 14 hours of artificial light.

Buy only nursery-grown plants for best results. Contact your local nursery for availability or order online through carnivorous plant suppliers.

Pitcher plants can be divided and repotted as the plant is coming out of dormancy, but this must be done before vigorous new growth begins.

Move the potted plant to the basement or other cool area during the months of dormancy in frigid areas and keep the soil moist. Best temperatures range around 40 degrees during this period of three to four months.

Tropical pitcher plants, such as the Nepenthes or monkey cups need a greenhouse to grow properly. A greenhouse that successfully grows orchids produces the right environment for the Nepenthes.

Warnings

Don't use potting garden soil - it will kill the plant.

Potted pitcher plants can be grown outdoors during the growing season. They go dormant during the winter. Tropical pitcher plants can't take freezing temperatures. North American pitcher plants can be left outside according to the growth USDA zone.

Never let the pitcher plant's soil dry out, even during dormancy keep water in the drain saucer.

Only rainwater or distilled water should be used for watering carnivorous plants.

Never fertilize a pitcher plant; the plant gets its nutrients from the bugs it catches. If feeding any insects, keep this to a minimum because too many insects can cause the plant to wither and die.

Pitcher plants range in height from 4" (10 cm) long (parrot pitcher plant) to more than 3' (1 m) tall (yellow pitcher plant). Be careful to choose a variety that suits your requirements.

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Co-authors: 33

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Views: 474,216

Vickie Elaine Eckenrod

Aug 17, 2017

"I have never had a pitcher plant, so I bought one, it is amazing. I didn't know how to care for it. Reading this article helped me so much. I know now how to care for my pitcher plant. Thank you very much for all the information that I read. I will have notes to go back on or visit this site again. Here is my pitcher plant, I love it. "..." more

DR

Donna Richardson

Feb 28

"I had a pitcher plant given to me, and I never had one before. I live in central Florida and have the perfect porch for it. It's starting to get too big for the pot, so I need to transplant it. This article was extremely helpful. Thank you!"..." more

LP

Lorna Penny

Nov 21, 2018

"I found this article really good. I have had my plant about a year, and it's thriving its on a windowsill. "

BG

Beth Gibson

May 20, 2016

"I went to our town's big plant sale and found a pitcher plant for my grandson, who is a self-declared vegetarian and loves carnivorous plants. When I got it home I had NO idea how to grow it. This article, amongst many I perused, gave me the clearest instructions, the best pictures and the most confidence that he and I could grow this monster."..." more

FL

Francois Ledoux

May 27, 2016

"In September we are having a Harry Potter Girl Scout camporee. We are thinking of introducing our girls to magical plants in their "Herbology" class and each girl would have plants to take home after having been instructed in the care of these plants. This article will prove priceless."..." more

MS

Marla Sparks

Feb 15, 2017

"I come to Florida for the winter months, saw this pitcher plant, and loved it. Purchased one and was looking for a site to help me know how to care for the plant when I take it to Indiana in April. Lots of information on how to care for the plant."..." more

JS

J. S.

Apr 12, 2018

"best video I've seen re: nepenthe. I've got this same plant that I bought at the Philadelphia flower show, and I absolutely love it. I was wondering what to do about the hanging pitchers turning brown on their tops, video told me what to do."..." more

BC

Bobbie Calhoun

May 20, 2016

"My pods are turning brown in May, but after watching your video, I now know why. I have moved my plant and cut off all the brown pods and leaves. Thank you so much for the info. I love my pitcher plant."..." more

BC

Bobbie Calhoun

May 27, 2016

"My pods are turning brown, but after watching your video, I know why. I have moved my plant and cut off all the brown pods and leaves. Thank you so much for the info. I love my pitcher plant."..." more

DB

Dana Burton

Jan 16, 2017

"Explaining everything step by step is what's so helpful to me. Such clear instructions. I love having the pictures to reference if I feel like I have a question. Thanks for all the detail!"..." more

TP

Tony Pujado

Jun 11, 2017

"I have pitcher plant that the pitchers were turning brown and I didn't know whether I should cut them. Thanks for explaining why they turn brown and how and where to cut. Thanks."..." more

Rated this article:

SO

Susan Offen-James

Sep 17, 2016

"I have long wanted a pitcher plant, so my husband bought me one for my birthday. Thanks to your article, not only is it still alive over a year later, it has just flowered! "..." more

ED

Esther Decker

May 5, 2016

"I bought a pitcher plant last year and I checked your article to make sure I'm caring for it properly. The information you posted is very helpful."..." more

DY

Dorothy Yost

Jun 4, 2016

"Good pictures & facts about pitcher plants. Not a common plant so I needed direction to keep mine healthy."

SM

Sofyan Mardinata

Jul 3, 2017

"This article is easy to understanding how to care for the pitcher plant and the carnivore's environment."

Rated this article:

ES

Euan Shotton

Jul 30, 2017

"It was a good explanation of how to grow them, and it was simple and easy to understand."

Rated this article:

DN

Dalene Nalley

Jul 10, 2016

"New species of plant for me. Fits right in with my orchids. Very interesting. Thank you"

MP

Morgan Porter

Aug 13, 2017

"I received one as a gift and was not sure if I remembered correctly how to care for it."

Rated this article:

Sloot Michel

May 20, 2017

"I just began with the plants. This site has good info for lots of plants."